The amount of single-use plastic bottles in our world is more than a kilometer high. A recent study by Euromonitor International showed that 480 billion plastic bottles were sold worldwide in 2018. This is a 50% increase from 2009! The plastic bottle pile is 2.4 kilometers high. These single-use plastic bottles are one of the leading causes of ocean pollution, but they’re not the only ones. To reduce the impact of plastic pollution on our oceans, we must begin to curb their use.
Process for Recycling Plastic Bottles
The process for recycling plastic bottles begins with the processing of incoming bottles. First, the bottles are warmed inside a tube mould. They are then inflated with high-pressure air. Once they reach the desired volume, they must immediately be cooled. This process can be done by blowing air or liquid nitrogen around the bottles. Once the bottles cool, they are sent to a company that will remelt the plastic. In this way, plastic bottles are recycled into countless products.
Injection molding is another way to recycle plastic bottles. A multi-cavity plastic injection molding machine heats plastic pellets that are fed into the barrel. These pellets will take the shape of long, thin tubes. They also incorporate threads and necks for caps. The process allows PET parisons to be shipped to bottling facilities without requiring any additional packaging. It is much easier to recycle than a fully formed bottle.
Different Ways to Recycle Plastic Water Bottles
There are a few ways to recycle plastic water bottles. You can visit General Recycling Facts and What Happens to All That Plastic to learn more about the process and what happens to the plastic once it’s recycled. You can also visit One More Generation, Empowering Kids to Save the Planet, and Education Station. These sites contain information on how to recycle plastic bottles. This is also a great way to educate your kids about how important it is to recycle.
Single-use plastic bottles may wind up in the ocean or carried by wind or storm water. They may even wind up in incinerators. At the end of their lifecycle, they face the same paths as other forms of plastic. At least 30% of plastic bottles are recycled in the U.S. Most of these bottles are not recycled at all. But if you do find them, you can recycle them anyway! And the best part? They won’t cost you a thing.
There are Some Drawbacks
But we should still keep our eye on the future. Plastic bottles were introduced to the market around the 1940s, and since then, the world has embraced them. Although they’re relatively inexpensive, there are many disadvantages of using them. They’re light and cheap, and are easy to shape. The biggest drawback is that they harm wildlife and can’t be recycled. However, they’re still a great way to make our planet a better place.
One of the main factors driving the demand for plastic water bottles is urbanization in China. The country accounted for nearly a quarter of the global demand for plastic water bottles in 2015 and 2016.
Avoid Buying anything that Contains BPA or other Harmful Chemicals
There are a number of different types of plastic bottles on the market. Most are made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), but others are more specialized. For example, plastic bottles for drinks and detergents are typically made of PET. Then, the polymers are heated to around 260 degrees and injected into small moulds that shape the plastic into a thin tube. Then, the bottles are filled with a liquid and capped.
What can Plastic Bottles Hold? Plastic bottles can be used to hold just about anything. They’re great for beverages, foods, chemicals, and personal care products. You can choose from a variety of colors, styles, and plastic types, so the possibilities are nearly endless! Just make sure to know the material before you buy a bottle. That way, you’ll avoid buying anything that contains BPA or other harmful chemicals. You’ll be helping the environment at the same time.
Types of Plastic
Styrene and HDPE are two different types of plastic. Styrene provides excellent clarity and stiffness, but it doesn’t provide good barrier properties and poor impact resistance. Both HDPE plastic are low-hazard materials, and the FDA approves them for use in food containers. However, both types of plastic are not perfect for all situations. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your business needs. But whatever the case, a high-quality plastic bottle can make your life easier.
Plastic bottle use is a major issue for the environment. Millions of bottles are purchased every minute. Eventually, this figure will increase to half a trillion bottles. Environmental campaigners believe that this issue is as serious as climate change. But they don’t want the world to suffer because of a waste problem that won’t end. They want to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics and to create a more environmentally friendly planet.
